In today’s society, there is no one too far out of reach from A.I.’s grip. And college students are no different. 

AI, or artificial Intelligence, is one of the newest and most intriguing technological advances of the twenty-first century. A.I. is a technology that uses generative computers and software to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making of the human mind. AI is currently a 43-million-dollar enterprise. And more than 25% of American start-up companies and investments have gone to A.I. companies. Not only has AI enticed multiple technological companies and many of the world’s richest to invest in AI, but its investments and growth have also enticed college students. 

While it may be impossible to track the age and number of investors, many college students have come forward about investing and not wanting to wait until a degree to become successful. In various interviews for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other prestigious news sources, they say that the main worry is that their degree will not be useful by the time they graduate. A.I. is slowly taking over, and this includes many jobs being taken over as well. As expected many worry about their jobs still being performed by workers themselves rather than technology. As students are still getting their degrees, they worry about the amount of time it will take A.I. to take over and the amount of time it takes to get their degrees. Another concern over A.I., and a reason to invest in A.I. is the price of a degree over the price of investing in A.I. Many wonder whether the investments made in A.I. will better support them and their future or whether it could hinder their learning and money. Multiple studies have found that the revenue for A.I. investors and practitioners can reach up to $576K and can easily range between 328K and 551K. A.I. has generated a wealthy amount of income for those who work in the technology field, but also for those investing. And many have decided to follow the money. But which is best for their future? Many debate that following the money is going to guarantee their future more than getting a degree will. The practical skills of learning how to invest will set them up better, and allow them to branch out into different careers. Whereas the following argument is that if an investment fails and an alternative job needs to be found, they will need that degree to help them. 

Both sides add to the question, is getting a degree worth it? Is investing in upcoming technology, like AI, worth it? Only time will tell if A.I., and investing, is a friend or foe.